Polyphasic multi-coil generator

ABSTRACT

A polyphasic multi-coil generator includes a drive shaft, at least first and second rotors rigidly mounted on the drive shaft so as to simultaneously synchronously rotate with rotation of the drive shaft, and at least one stator sandwiched between the first and second rotors. A stator array on the stator has an array of electrically conductive coils mounted to the stator in a first angular orientation about the drive shaft. The rotors each have an array of magnets which are circumferentially equally spaced around the rotor and located at the same radially spacing with respect to the centre of the rotor and the drive shaft at a first angular orientation relative to the drive shaft. The arrays of magnets on adjacent rotors are off-set by an angular offset relative to one another.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/036,052 filed Jan. 18, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,696 (which isherein incorporated by reference), which is a Continuation-in-Part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/976,778 filed Nov. 1, 2004 nowabandoned which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/600,723 filed Aug. 12, 2004 entitled Polyphasic StationaryMulti-Coil Generator.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of generators, and moreparticularly, it relates to a generator having polyphasic multiple coilsin staged staggered arrays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional electric motors employ magnetic forces to produce eitherrotational or linear motion. Electric motors operate on the principlethat when a conductor, which carries a current, is located in themagnetic field, a magnetic force is exerted upon the conductor resultingin movement. Conventional generators operate through the movement ofmagnetic fields thereby producing a current in a conductor situatedwithin the magnetic fields. As a result of the relationship betweenconventional motors and generators, conventional generator technologieshave focused mainly on modifying electric motor designs, for example, byreversing the operation of an electric motor.

In a conventional design for an electric motor, adding an electricalcurrent to the coils of an induction system creates a force through theinteraction of the magnetic fields and the conducting wire. The forcerotates a shaft. Conventional electric generator design is the opposite.By rotating the shaft, an electric current is created in the conductorcoils. However the electric current will continue to oppose the forcerotating the shaft. This resistance will continue to grow as the speedof the shaft is increased, thus reducing the efficiency of thegenerator. In a generator where a wire is coiled around a soft iron core(ferromagnetic), a magnet may be drawn by the coil and a current will beproduced in the coil wire. However, the system would not create anefficient generator due to the physical reality that it takes moreenergy to pull the magnet away from the soft iron core of the coil thanwould be created in the form of electricity by the passing of themagnet.

As a result, there is a need for a generator wherein the magnetic dragmay be substantially reduced such that there is little resistance whilethe magnets are being drawn away from the coils. Furthermore, there is aneed for a generator that minimizes the impact of the magnetic dragproduced on the generator. In the prior art, Applicant is aware of U.S.Pat. No. 4,879,484 which issued to Huss on Nov. 7, 1989 for anAlternating Current Generator and Method of Angularly Adjusting theRelative Positions of Rotors Thereof. Huss describes an actuator forangularly adjusting a pair of rotors relative to each other about acommon axis, the invention being described as solving a problem withvoltage control as generator load varies where the output voltage of adual permanent magnet generator is described as being controlled byshifting the two rotors in and out of phase.

Applicant also is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,263 which issued Aug. 13,1985 to Avery for Electric D.C. Motors with a Plurality of Units, EachIncluding a Permanent Magnet Field Device and a Wound Armature forProducing Poles. In that reference, Avery discloses an electric motorhaving spaced stators enclosing respective rotors on a common shaftwherein circumferential, spaced permanent magnets are mounted on therotors and the stator windings are angularly offset with respect toadjacent stators slots so that cogging that occurs as the magnets pass astator slot are out of phase and thus substantially cancelled out.

Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,745 which issued to Luxon Oct. 16, 1984 for a Disc Rotor Permanent Magnet Generator. Luxdiscloses mounting an array of magnets on a rotor so as to pass themagnets between inner and outer stator coils. The inner and outerstators each have a plurality of coils so that for each revolution ofthe rotor more magnets pass by more coils than in what are described asstandard prior art generators having only an outer coil-carrying statorwith fewer, more spaced apart magnets.

Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,031 which issued Whartonon Dec. 8, 1981 for a Rotary Electrical Machine. Wharton purports toaddress the problem wherein a generator's use of permanent magnet rotorsgives rise to difficulties in regulating output voltage under varyingexternal load and shaft speed and so describes a servo control of therelative positions of the permanent magnets by providing a rotor havinga plurality of first circumferentially spaced permanent magnet polepieces and a plurality of second circumferentially spaced permanentmagnet pole pieces, where the servo causes relative movement between thefirst and second pole pieces, a stator winding surrounding the rotor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, the polyphasic multi-coil generator includes a drive shaft,at least first and second rotors rigidly mounted on the drive shaft soas to simultaneously synchronously rotate with rotation of the driveshaft, and at least one stator sandwiched between the first and secondrotors. The stator has an aperture through which the drive shaft isrotatably journalled. A stator array on the stator has an array ofelectrically conductive coils mounted to the stator in a first angularorientation about the drive shaft. The coils on the stator array arecircumferentially spaced around the stator and located at the sameradially spacing with respect to the centre of the stator and the driveshaft and may, without intending to be limiting be equallycircumferentially spaced apart. The rotors and the stator lie insubstantially parallel planes. The first and second rotors have,respectively, first and second rotor arrays. The first rotor array has afirst rotor array of magnets which are circumferentially equally spacedaround the first rotor and located at the same radial spacing withrespect to the centre of the rotor and the drive shaft at a firstangular orientation relative to the drive shaft. The second rotor arrayhas a second array of magnets which are circumferentially equally spacedaround the second rotor and located at the same radial spacing withrespect to the axial centre of the second rotor at a second angularorientation relative to the drive shaft. Without intending to belimiting, the rotor arrays may be equally radially spaced apart. Thefirst and second angular orientations are off-set by an angular offsetso that the first and second rotor arrays are offset relative to oneanother. The radially spaced apart stator and rotor arrays may beconstructed without the symmetry of their being equally radially spacedapart and still function.

The angular offset is such that, as the drive shaft and the rotors arerotated in a direction of rotation of the rotors so as to rotaterelative to the stator, an attractive magnetic force of the magnets ofthe first rotor array attracts the magnets of the first rotor arraytowards corresponding next adjacent coils in the stator array which liein the direction of rotation of the rotors so as to substantiallybalance with and provide a withdrawing force applied to the magnets ofthe second rotor array to draw the magnets of the second rotor arrayaway from corresponding past adjacent coils in the stator array as themagnets of the second rotor array are withdrawn in the direction ofrotation of the rotors away from the past adjacent coils. Similarly, asthe drive shaft and the rotors are rotated in the direction of rotationof the rotors, an attractive magnetic force of the magnets of the secondrotor array attracts the magnets of the second rotor array towardscorresponding next adjacent coils in the stator array which lie in thedirection of rotation of the rotors so as to substantially balance withand provide a withdrawing force applied to the magnets of the firstrotor array to draw the magnets of the first rotor array away fromcorresponding past adjacent coils in the stator array as the magnets ofthe first rotor array are withdrawn in the direction of rotation of therotors away from the past adjacent coils.

In one embodiment, a further stator is mounted on the drive shaft, sothat the drive shaft is rotatably journalled through a drive shaftaperture in the further stator. A further stator array is mounted on thefurther stator. The further stator array has an angular orientationabout the drive shaft which, while not intending to be limiting, may besubstantially the same angular orientation as the first angularorientation of the stator array of the first stator. A third rotor ismounted on the drive shaft so as to simultaneously synchronously rotatewith rotation of the first and second rotors. A third rotor array ismounted on the third rotor. The third rotor array has a third array ofmagnets which are circumferentially equally spaced around the thirdrotor and located at the same radial spacing with respect to the centreof the rotor and the drive shaft at a third angular orientation relativeto the drive shaft. The third angular orientation is angularly offsetfor example, by the angular offset of the first and second rotor arraysso that the third rotor array is offset relative to the second rotorarray by the same angular offset as between the first and second rotorarrays. The further stator and the third rotor lay in planessubstantially parallel to the substantially parallel planes the firststator and the first and second rotors. Advantageously the third rotorarray is both offset by the same angular offset as between the first andsecond rotor arrays from the second rotor array and by twice the angularoffset as between the first and second rotor arrays, that is, theirangular offset multiplied by two, from the first rotor array. Thus thefirst, second and third rotor arrays are sequentially angularlystaggered about the drive shaft.

The sequentially angularly staggered first, second and third rotors, thefirst stator and the further stators may be referred to as togetherforming a first generator stage. A plurality of such stages, that is,substantially the same as the first generator stage, may be mounted onthe drive shaft. Further stages may or may not be aligned with the firststage depending upon the desired application.

The magnets in the rotor arrays may be pairs of magnets, each pair ofmagnets may advantageously be arranged with one magnet of the pairradially inner relative to the drive shaft and the other magnet of thepair radially outer relative to the drive shaft. This arrangement of themagnets, and depending on the relative position of the correspondingcoils on the corresponding stator, provides either radial flux rotors oraxial flux rotors. For example, each pair of magnets may be alignedalong a common radial axis, that is, one common axis for each pair ofmagnets, where each radial axis extends radially outwardly of the driveshaft, and each coil in the stator array may be aligned so that the eachcoil is wrapped substantially symmetrically around corresponding radialaxes. Thus, advantageously, the magnetic flux of the pair of magnets isorthogonally end-coupled, that is, coupled at ninety degrees to thecorresponding coil as each pair of magnets are rotated past thecorresponding coil.

In one embodiment not intended to be limiting, the first rotor array isat least in part co-planar with the corresponding stator array as thefirst rotor array is rotated past the stator array, and the second rotorarray is at least in part co-planar with the corresponding stator arrayas the second rotor is rotated past the stator array.

The rotors may include rotor plates wherein the rotor arrays are mountedto the rotor plates, and wherein the rotor plates are mountedorthogonally onto the drive shaft. The stators may include stator platesand the stator arrays are mounted to the stator plates, and wherein thestator plates are orthogonal to the drive shaft.

The rotors may be mounted on the drive shaft by mounting means which mayinclude clutches mounted between each of the first and second rotors andthe drive shaft. In such an embodiment, the drive shaft includes meansfor selectively engaging each clutch in sequence along the drive shaftby selective longitudinal translation of the drive shaft by selectivetranslation means. The clutches may be centrifugal clutches adapted formating engagement with the drive shaft when the drive shaft islongitudinally translated by the selective translation means into afirst position for mating engagement with, firstly, a first clutch forexample, although not necessarily, on the first rotor and, secondlysequentially into a second position for mating engagement with also asecond clutch for example on the second rotor and so on to sequentiallyadd load to the drive shaft, for example during start-up. Thus in athree rotor stage, some or all of the rotors may have clutches betweenthe rotors and the drive shaft. As described above, the stages may berepeated along the drive shaft.

In an alternative embodiment, the mounting means may be a rigid mountingmounted between the third rotor, each of the first and second rotors andthe drive shaft. Instead of the use of clutches, the electrical windingson the rotor arrays in successive stages may be selectively electricallyenergized, that is, between open and closed circuits for selectivewindings wherein rotational resistance for rotating the drive shaft isreduced when the circuits are open and increased when the circuits areclosed. Staging of the closing of the circuits for successive statorarrays, that is, in successive stages, provides for the selectivegradual loading of the generator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 a is, in partially cut away perspective view, one embodiment ofthe polyphasic multi-coil generator showing a single stator sandwichedbetween opposed facing rotors.

FIG. 1 is, in front perspective view, a further embodiment of thepolyphasic multi-coil generator according to the present inventionillustrating by way of example nine rotor and stator pairs wherein thenine pairs are grouped into three stages having three rotor and statorpairs within each stage, the radially spaced arrays of magnets on eachsuccessive rotor within a single stage staggered so as to be angularlyoffset with respect to each other.

FIG. 2 is, in front perspective exploded view, the generator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the generator of FIG. 2 in rear perspective exploded view.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the generator of FIG. 1illustrating the grouping of the rotor and stator pairs into three pairsper stage.

FIG. 4 a is, in front elevation view, the generator of FIG. 1 with thefront rotor plate removed so as to show the radially spaced apart magnetand coil arrangement.

FIG. 5 is, in perspective view, the generator of FIG. 1 within ahousing.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is, in front perspective exploded view a single rotor and statorpair of the generator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is the rotor and stator pair of FIG. 7 in rear perspectiveexploded view.

FIG. 9 is, in cross sectional view, an alternative embodiment of asingle rotor and stator pair illustrating the use of a centrifugalclutch between the rotor and the drive shaft.

FIG. 9 a is a cross sectional view through an exploded front perspectiveview of the rotor and stator pair of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is, in partially cut away front elevation view, an alternativeembodiment of the present invention illustrating an alternative radiallyspaced apart arrangement of rotor and stator arrays.

FIG. 11 a is in side elevation a further alternative embodiment of thegenerator according to the present invention wherein the stator coilsare parallel to the drive shaft on a single stage.

FIG. 11 b is in side elevation two stages according to the design ofFIG. 11 a.

FIG. 11 c is, in side elevation, three stages of a further alternativeembodiment wherein the stator coils are inclined relative to the driveshaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

I incorporate herein by reference in its entirety my U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/600,723 filed Aug. 12, 2004 entitledPolyphasic Stationary Multi-Coil Generator. Where any inconsistencyexists between that document and this specification, for example in thedefinition of terms, this specification is to govern.

In FIG. 1 a, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding partsin each view, a single stage 10 of the polyphasic multi-coil generatoraccording to the present invention includes a pair of rotors 12 and 14lying in parallel planes and sandwiching therebetween so as to beinterleaved in a plane parallel and lying between the planes of therotors, a stator 16. Rotors 12 and 14 are rigidly mounted to a driveshaft 18 so that when drive shaft 18 is rotated by a prime mover (notshown) for example in direction A, rotors 12 and 14 rotatesimultaneously at the same rate about axis of rotation B. Feet 32 areprovided to mount stator 16 down onto a base or floor surface. Rotors 12and 14 each have a central hub 19 and mounted thereon extending in anarray which is circumferentially equally spaced around the rotors andlocated at the same spacing with respect to the centre of the rotors anddrive shaft 18 are pairs of magnets 22 a and 22 b. Although only onepair of magnets, that is, only two separate magnets are illustrated,with a keeper shown between to increase flux, a single magnet with thepolarities of either end inducing the coils may be used withsubstantially equal results. Each pair of magnets is mounted on acorresponding rigid arm 24 extended cantilevered radially outwardly fromhub 19. Each pair of magnets 22 a and 22 b are spaced apart along thelength of their corresponding arm 24 so as to define a passage orchannel 26 between the pair of magnets.

Electrically conductive wire coils 28 are wrapped around iron-ferritecores 30. Cores 30 and coils 28 are mounted so as to protrude from bothsides 16 a and 16 b of stator 16. Coils 28 are sized so as to passsnugly between the distal ends 22 a and 22 b of magnets 22, that is,through channel 26 so as to end couple the magnetic flux of the magnetswith the ends of the coils. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 a,again which is not intended to be limiting, eight coils 28 andcorresponding cores 30 are mounted equally radially spaced apart aroundstator 16, so that an equal number of coils and cores extend from theopposite sides of stator 16 aligned so that each coil and core portionon side 16 a has a corresponding coil and core immediately behind it onthe opposite side of stator 16, that is, on side 16 b. It is to beunderstood that although this embodiment employs an eight coil array,however, any number of coils with corresponding magnet assemblies may byemployed. For example, in one embodiment, this design uses sixteen coilsand two sets of armatures (that is rotors) with twelve sets of magnetseach. This embodiment is not intended to suggest that a single stage maybe employed. Any number of stages may be utilized on the same driveshaft.

Rotor 14 is a mirror image of rotor 12. Rotors 12 and 14 are mounted inopposed facing relation on opposite sides of stator 16. The angularorientation of rotors 12 and 14 about drive shaft 18 differs between thetwo rotors. That is, the magnets 22 on rotor 14 are angularly offsetabout axis of rotation B relative to the magnets mounted on rotor 12.For example, each of the pairs of magnets on rotor 14 may be angularlyoffset by, for example, and offset angle α (better defined below) offive degrees or ten degrees or fifteen degrees relative to the angularorientation of the pairs of magnets on rotor 12. Thus, as rotors 12 and14 are simultaneously being driven by rotation of shaft 18, as a magnet22 on rotor 12 is being magnetically attracted towards a next adjacentcore 30 portion on side 16 a of the stator, the attractive force isassisting in pushing or drawing the corresponding magnet on rotor 14past and away from the corresponding core portion on side 16 b of stator16. Thus the attractive force of incoming magnets (incoming relative tothe coil) on one rotor substantially balances the force required to pushthe corresponding magnets on the other rotor away from the coil/core.Consequently, any one magnet on either of the rotors is not rotated pasta core merely by the force of the rotation applied to drive shaft 18,and the amount of force required to rotate the rotors relative to thestator is reduced. The efficiency of the generator is thus increased bythe angular offsetting of the magnet pairs on opposite sides of thestator acting to balance or effectively cancel out the effects of thedrawing of the magnets past the cores.

Further stages may be mounted onto drive shaft 18 for example furtheropposed facing pairs of rotors 12 and 14 having a stator 16 interleavedtherebetween. In such an embodiment, further efficiency of the generatormay be obtained by progressive angular offsetting of the magnets so asto angularly stagger each successive rotors' array of magnets relativeto the angular orientation of the magnets on adjacent rotors. Thus, withsufficient number of stages, the magnetic forces may be relativelyseamlessly balanced so that at any point during rotation of drive shaft18, the attractive force of the magnet approaching the next adjacentcores in the direction of rotation balances the force required to pushor draw the magnet pairs on other rotors away from that core thusreducing the force required to rotate drive shaft 18.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, againwherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts ineach view. In the illustrated embodiment nine banks of rotors 34 eachhave magnet pairs 36 a and 36 b which are circumferentially equallyspaced around the rotors and located at the same radial spacing withrespect to the centre of the rotors wherein the arrays are angularlydisplaced or staggered relative to adjacent arrays on adjacent rotors.Thus each magnet pair 36 a and 36 b in the equally radially spaced arrayof magnet pairs 36 a and 36 b, radially spaced about axis of rotation Bare angularly offset by the same offset angle .alpha., for example, fivedegrees, ten degrees or fifteen degrees, between adjacent rotors. Thusthe successive banks of rotors are cumulatively staggered by the sameangular displacement between each successive rotor so as to achieve amore seamlessly magnetically balanced rotation of the rotors relative tothe stators 38 and in particular relative to the coils 40 and cores 42mounted on stators 38.

Magnets 36 a and 36 b are mounted onto a carrier plate 44. The carrierplate 44 for each rotor 34 is rigidly mounted onto drive shaft 18. Coils40 and their corresponding cores 42 are mounted onto a stator plate 48.Stator plate 48 is rigidly mounted to housing 56, which itself may bemounted down onto a base or floor by means of rigid supports (notshown).

In one alternative embodiment not intending to be limiting, a smallmotor 54, which is in addition to the prime mover (not shown), may beemployed to engage additional stages or banks having furtherprogressively angularly displaced or staggered stages or banks of magnetpairs in radially spaced array on successive rotors. For example motor54 may selectively drive a shifter rod so as to sequentially engagecentrifugal clutch mechanisms on each rotor as described below.

A housing 56 may be provided to enclose stators 38 and the armatures orrotors 34. Housing 56 may be mounted on a supporting frame (not shown),and both may be made of non-magnetic and non-conductive materials toeliminate eddy currents. In one embodiment of the invention, notintended to be limiting, a single stage 58 of the generator includesthree stators 38 interleaved with three rotors 34. The generator mayinclude multiple stages 58 along the drive shaft to reduce the magneticdrag by offsetting any resistances created within the generator.

Stators 38 may include a plurality of induction coils 40 made ofelectrically conducting materials, such as copper wire. Each inductioncoil 40 may be wrapped around a highly ferromagnetic core such as a softiron core 42. Alternatively, induction coils 40 may be air coils (thatis, not wrapped around any core) for applications where less outputcurrent is required or where less mechanical force is available to beapplied to rotors 38. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,the stators are disk shaped. The embodiment of FIG. 1 a includes eightinduction coils 28 mounted equidistant and equally radially spaced apartfrom each other on a plate or disk made of non-magnetic andnon-conductive materials. In the embodiment of the remaining figures,stators 38 include sixteen induction coils 40 on each stator disk orplate 48. The number of induction coils 40 may vary depending on theapplication of the generator, and may be only limited by the physicalspace available on the stator plate.

The induction coils 40 may be configured such that a first set ofinduction coils 40 produce a first independent phase signal and a secondset of induction coils 40 produce a second independent phase signal withopposing wave signals. The induction coils 40 are alternately orientatedsuch that an induction coil 40 producing the first independent phasesignal is positioned in between induction coils 40 producing the secondindependent phase signal. In such dual phase design, the two independentphases are exact reciprocals of each other wherein one independent phasemay be inverted to combine the potential current of the two into onephase with a synchronous wave pattern. Preferably, each of the first setand second set of induction coils 40 have an equal number of inductioncoils 40 wrapped around their cores 42 in a first direction and an equalnumber of induction coils 40 wrapped around their cores 42 in anopposite second direction to align the currents of the two phases. Forexample, in the embodiment wherein the stators 38 include sixteen, thatis, two sets of eight induction coils 40 (alternate phases), each of thefirst set of eight induction coils 40 will produce a first independentphase signal and the second set of eight induction coils 40 will producea second independent phase signal.

Rotors 34 may have magnets 36 of any magnetic materials such asneodymium magnets. Rotors 34 each include an array of equally spacedapart pairs of magnets 36 a and 36 b which are mounted on rotor platesmade of non-magnetic and non-conductive materials so as to discouragestraying flux lines or eddy currents. In the embodiment having sixteeninduction coils 40 on each stator, the rotor array of magnets (the“rotor array”) includes eight “U”-shaped opposed facing pairs of magnets36 on each rotor 34. Each end of each “U”-shaped magnet 36, sixteen endsin all on the radially outer ring and sixteen on the inner ring, arepaired to the corresponding sixteen coils as the ends of the magnets arerotated closely past the opposite ends of the coils.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 the rotor arrays betweensuccessive rotors 34 in stage 58 are angularly offset about the axis ofrotation B of the drive shaft by an offset angle α of for examplefifteen degrees. It is understood that an offset of fifteen degrees ismerely one preferred offset, but it may be any number of degrees ofoffset. Offset angle α is seen best in FIG. 4 a as the angle between theradial axes 60 and 60′ of magnets 36 a and 36 a′ of successive rotors34.

As the rotors are driven to rotate about the drive shaft by an outsidemotive force, such as for example wind or water or other prime movers,the magnets 36 travel towards induction coils 40 by attraction of themagnets to the cores 42. AC pulse is created in all the induction coilson the stators as the induction-coils are designed to draw the magneticflux from the magnets 36. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 a, which isillustrative, the opposing polarity of the magnets between each rotorand the angularly offset alignment of the rotor array relative to eachother permits the magnets to be drawn away from one core and towards thenext core. For example, the north, south (N,S) polarity configuration ofthe magnets on the first rotor 12 is drawn by the opposing south, north(S,N) polarity configuration of the magnets on is the second rotor 14,where the first rotor array is offset by fifteen degrees relative to thesecond rotor array such that the magnetic attraction between the magnetson the first rotor and the magnets on the second rotor draws the magnetsaway from the core. The balancing of magnetic forces between magnets onthe rotors reduces the work required from the drive shaft to drawmagnets off the induction coils, thereby increasing the efficiency ofthe generator.

The rotating magnetic fields created by the configuration of the magnetswith alternating magnetic orientation between rotors and the alternatingmulti phase configuration of the induction coils create multiplereciprocal AC phase signals. As the induction coils are stationary, ACpower may be harnessed directly from the induction coils withoutbrushes. The regulation and attenuation of these currents may beachieved by methods known in the art. As the magnets pass the inductioncoils, they induce a current that alternates in direction. Magnets maybe configured such that for example an equal number of magnets influencethe first set of induction coils by a N,S magnetic polarity as thenumber of magnets influencing the second set of induction coils by a S,Nmagnetic polarity. The configuration of the rotors create an alternatingcurrent in each of the two phases of the single stage embodiment of FIG.1 a. The configuration of magnetic forces allow for a balancing of theresistances within the generator.

In an alternative embodiment, such as seen in FIGS. 1-9, there is asignificant advantage to the addition of multiple stages on the driveshaft. The work required to rotate the drive shaft may be even furtherreduced through the addition of multiple stages 58. The alignment of themultiple stages may be offset such that additional stages furtherreduces resistance in the generator by accomplishing even greaterbalancing of forces than can be done with a single stage design.Alignment of stator arrays of coils (“stator arrays”) may be offset oralternatively, the alignment of the rotor arrays may be offset to reduceresistance. Consequently, adding additional stages may increaseelectrical output without proportionally increasing resistance withinthe generator. While additional induction coils will increase magneticdrag, the greater balancing of forces achieved by the orientation of thestator arrays and rotor arrays of the additional stages offsets theincrease in drag and further increases the overall efficiency of thegenerator. Additional stages may be engaged so as to rotate theadditional rotors by any number of mechanisms, such as current drivensensors that use solenoids, or clutches such as the centrifugal drivenclutch mechanisms of FIGS. 7-9, 9 a which may be used to engage the nextstage when the rotor of a subsequent stage achieves a predeterminedspeed. An example of a clutch is illustrated. Clutch 62 is mountedwithin the hub of each of rotors 34. Rotation of a clutch arm 64, oncethe clutch is engaged by the splines on the splined portion 18 b ofdrive shaft 18 engaging matching splines within the arm hub 66, drivesthe arm against stops 68. This drives the clutch shoes 70 radiallyoutwardly so as to engage the periphery of the shoes against theinterior surface of the rotor carrier plate hub 44 a. A linear actuator,for example such as motor 54, actuates shifter rod 72 in direction D soas to engage splined portion 18 b with firstly, the splines within thearm hub 66. Then, once the clutch engages and the rotor comes up tonearly match the rotational speed of the drive shaft, the splinedportion is further translated so as to engage the splines 74 a withinthe rotor hub 74. Subsequent rotor/stator pairs or subsequent stages,such as stages 58, may be added, by further translation of the shifterrod into the splines of subsequent clutches and their correspondingrotor hubs. In a reversal of this process, stages are removed bywithdrawing the shifter rod. Rotor hubs are supported by needle bearings76 within stator hub 38 a. In the further alternative, linear motordriven mechanisms or spline and spring mechanisms may be used. FIG. 10is a further alternative embodiment wherein the coils are offset in aconcentric circle around the drive shaft to achieve the magneticbalancing. The coils are aligned end to end in a concentric circlearound the drive shaft in the further alternative embodiment seen inFIGS. 11 a-11 c. The induction coils 40 are mounted parallel, orslightly inclined as in FIG. 11 c, relative to the drive shaft to reducethe draw of magnetic flux from between the rotors due to the closeproximity and the strength of the magnets. A further advantage ofpositioning the induction coils parallel to the drive shaft is thatdrawing magnets directly past the end of each induction coil rather thanfrom the side may be more efficient in inducing current in the inductioncoils. A horizontal orientation of the induction coils may also permitdoubling the number of induction coils in the generator, resulting ingreater output. In the embodiment of FIG. 11 b, the two stator arrays 80and 80′ have an angular offset relative to each other that is one halfof the desired total angular offset, that is, the alignment thatprovides for optimum balance. The next successive stator array may thenhave the same angular offset as between stator arrays 80 and 80′. As inthe other embodiments the angular offset may be appropriately offset forany number of stages. This embodiment shows that the coils may be offsetwhile leaving the magnet arrays in the armatures/rotors in alignment,that is without an angular offset between successive rotor arrays, andstill accomplish the balancing effect.

As stated above, multiple stages reduce resistance as each stage isadded. For example, within a stage having three rotor/stator pairs,rather than a single induction coil being induced by the passing of twomagnets with opposing magnetic poles, such an embodiment allows twoinduction coils to effectively align between the magnetic influences ofthe rotor arrays. In addition to increasing the number of inductioncoils, the rotors arrays are much further apart, thus significantlyreducing the incidence of straying magnetic flux across the spacebetween the rotors.

To appropriately orientate additional stages for a staging application,the rotor arrays may be appropriately angularly offset as describedabove. Alternatively as seen in FIG. 11 c, the induction coils may beangled such that the rotor arrays are not perfectly aligned in parallelto each other. As induction coils 40 and their corresponding cores 42are on a slight angle, magnets (not shown) on rotors 78 on either sideof the stator arrays 80 are preferably misaligned too as the magneticinfluence from the magnets should induce each of the induction coilsfrom both ends simultaneously for optimum function. In an embodiment ofthe invention, the misalignment of rotor arrays is increasingly smaller,becoming negligible as more stages are added. As additional stages areadded, the less of an angular offset exists between the subsequent rotorarrays with the stages. Any number on of stages may be added to thedrive shaft and additional stages may be aligned or misaligned withother stages within the generator, depending on the desired function.

The optimum number of stages may be determined by the degrees of offsetof each stage relative to the previous stage. The number of inductioncoils in the stator arrays need not depend on the corresponding numberof magnets in the rotor arrays. The stator arrays may include any numberof induction coils and they may or may not be symmetrical in theirplacement about the stators.

There are many applications for a generator according to the presentinvention. For example, rather than having a wind turbine that requiressignificant energy to start rotating drive shaft 18 and which may beoverloaded when too much wind is applied, the generator may bereconfigured allow the maximum current to be produced regardless of howmuch wind is driving the generator. This may be accomplished by engaginga greater number of stages, such as stages 58 for example as the windincreases and decreasing the engagement of stages to reducing the numberof engaged stages when the wind decreases. Furthermore, the first stageof the generator may include air coils such that very little wind energyis required to start rotating the drive shaft, and subsequent stages mayinclude induction coils having iron cores such that greater currents maybe generated when there is greater wind energy. Further, additionalstages may increase is size and diameter so as to create greaterphysical resistance when greater wind energy is present but as well tocreate more electrical output from the system when input energy is high.When wind energy is minimal, the generator may thus still allow forrotor 30 to rotate as it will engage only one, that is the first stageof the generator. As the wind energy increases, the generator may engageadditional stages, thus increasing the output current. As wind energycontinues to increase, more stages may be added or engaged to allow forthe maximum current to be drawn off the generator. As wind energydecreases in intensity, the generator may disengage the additionalstages and thus reduce mechanical resistance, allowing the blades of thewind turbine or other wind driven mechanism to continue to turnregardless of how much wind is present above a low threshold. Thisgenerator configuration allows for maximized energy collection.

Applications for such a variable load generator are numerous as thegenerator is not only able to adapt to variable source energies, such aswind, but can be adapted to service specific power needs when sourceenergy can be controlled. One example would be a hydro powered generatorthat rather than turning off at night, and needing to warm up again toservice greater power needs in the day, may simply vary its output tosuit the night cycle and thus use less source energy to function duringthat time.

In an alternative design, all of the rotors in all of the stages arerigidly mounted to the drive shaft, so that all of the rotors arerotating simultaneously. Instead of clutches, the windings circuits areleft open on, at least initially, many or most of the stages to reduceturning resistance, and only those windings on the stages to be engagedare closed, that is energized. This allows for reduced resistance on thedrive shaft overall when a lesser number of stages are electricallyengaged. As additional circuits are closed and more windings thus addedto the system, this will result in increasing the load of the generatorand thus it will increase resistance on the drive shaft. By notrequiring clutching mechanisms, the generator may be less expensive toconstruct and maintain as there are no maintenance issues regarding anyclutch mechanisms. This “electrical” staging system may be applied tothe magnetically balanced generator design according to the presentinvention or any other conventional design applicable for the stagingapplication.

It should also be noted that the staging application, mechanical withclutches, or electrical by engaging and disengaging coil array circuitrymay be applied to existing generator designs that are appropriatelyconstructed into short, stout sections so as to accommodate the stagingapplication.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of theforegoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible inthe practice of this invention without departing from the spirit orscope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to beconstrued in accordance with the substance defined by the followingclaims.

1. A polyphasic multi-coil generator comprising: a drive shaft; a firstrotor having a first aperture for receiving said drive shaft, said firstrotor having a first array of magnets circumferentially spaced on saidfirst rotor; a second rotor having a second aperture for receiving saiddrive shaft, said second rotor having a second array of magnetscircumferentially spaced on said second rotor, angular rotation of saidfirst rotor being fixed relative to said second rotor and said firstarray of magnets being angularly offset in a drive shaft rotationdirection from said second array of magnets; first and second statorsinterleaved with said first rotor and said second rotor, each of saidfirst and second stators having an aperture for receiving said driveshaft and a stator array including electrically conductive coils mountedcircumferentially on said first and second stators, said first andsecond rotors and said first and second stators being provided insubstantially parallel planes; mechanisms for selectively coupling saidfirst rotor and said second rotor to said drive shaft to rotate saidfirst rotor and said second rotor relative to said first and secondstators, rotation of said first rotor and said second rotor relative tosaid first and second stators for inducing a current in saidelectrically conductive coils of said first and second stators; whereina drive shaft input force required to rotate said first rotor and saidsecond rotor relative to said first and second stators is reduced byattractive magnetic forces that rotate said first array of magnets andsaid second array of magnets toward next electrically conductive coilsin said drive shaft rotation direction.
 2. A polyphasic multi-coilgenerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanisms are currentdriven sensors including at least one solenoid.
 3. A polyphasicmulti-coil generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanisms areclutches mounted within hubs of said first rotor and said second rotor,said clutches being selectively engageable by a splined portion of saiddrive shaft.
 4. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 3,wherein said clutches include clutch splines, a clutch arm and clutchshoes, said clutch arm being rotatable relative to said clutch shoes toforce said clutch shoes into engagement with said hubs and said clutcharm being rotatable with said clutch shoes to bring a rotational speedof said hubs into alignment with a rotational speed of said drive shaft.5. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein saidhubs include splines for receiving said splined portion of said driveshaft, said splined portion of said drive shaft being moved intoengagement with said splines of said hubs when said rotational speed ofsaid hubs matches said rotational speed of said drive shaft.
 6. Apolyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidsplined portion of said drive shaft is axially movable by a shifter rodto engage clutches of successive rotors of said polyphasic multi-coilgenerator, said subsequent rotors being interleaved with successivestators.
 7. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 1,wherein each of said first array of magnets and said second array ofmagnets include pairs of magnets, each of said pairs of magnetsincluding one magnet radially inner relative to said drive shaft and theother magnet radially outer relative to said drive shaft.
 8. Apolyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein each ofsaid pairs of magnets are aligned along a common radial axis extendingradially outwardly of said drive shaft.
 9. A polyphasic multi-coilgenerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said electricallyconductive coils is wrapped around a radial axis extending radiallyoutward of said drive shaft.
 10. A polyphasic multi-coil generator asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive coils arealigned end to end in a concentric circle around said drive shaft.
 11. Apolyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelectrically conductive coils are mounted parallel relative to saiddrive shaft.
 12. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim1, wherein said electrically conductive coils are mounted slightlyinclined from parallel relative to said drive shaft.
 13. A polyphasicmulti-coil generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first array ofmagnets is at least in part co-planar with said stator array of saidfirst stator and said second array of magnets is at least in partco-planar with said stator array of said second stator.
 14. A polyphasicmulti-coil generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising aplurality of successive stators interleaved with a plurality ofsuccessive rotors, wherein said electrically conductive coils of saidplurality of successive stators are selectively electrically energizedbetween open and closed circuits, rotational resistance for rotatingsaid drive shaft being reduced when circuits are open and increased whenthe circuits are closed.
 15. A polyphasic multi-coil generatorcomprising: a drive shaft; at least one generator stage including: threerotors interleaved with three stators, said three rotors being coupledto said drive shaft and each of said three stators having an aperturefor receiving said drive shaft, each of said three stators having astator array including electrically conductive coils mountedcircumferentially thereon, a first rotor having a first array ofmagnets, a second rotor having a second array of magnets and a thirdrotor having a third array of magnets, each array of magnets beingcircumferentially spaced on each of said three rotors, angular rotationof said three rotors being fixed relative to one another and said firstarray of magnets being angularly offset in a drive shaft rotationdirection from said second array of magnets and said third array ofmagnets being angularly offset in said drive shaft rotation directionfrom said second array of magnets, said three rotors and said threestators being provided in substantially parallel planes and rotation ofsaid three rotors relative to said three stators for inducing a currentin said electrically conductive coils of said three stators; mechanismsfor coupling said first rotor, said second rotor and said third rotor tosaid drive shaft to rotate said first rotor, said second rotor and saidthird rotor relative to said three stators, wherein a drive shaft inputforce required to rotate said three rotors relative to said threestators is reduced by attractive magnetic forces that rotate said firstarray of magnets, said second array of magnets and said third array ofmagnets toward next electrically conductive coils in said drive shaftrotation direction.
 16. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed inclaim 15, wherein said mechanisms rigidly couple said first rotor, saidsecond rotor and said third rotor to said drive shaft.
 17. A polyphasicmulti-coil generator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said mechanismsselectively couple said first rotor, said second rotor and said thirdrotor to said drive shaft.
 18. A polyphasic multi-coil generator asclaimed in claim 17, wherein said mechanisms are current driven sensorsincluding at least one solenoid.
 19. A polyphasic multi-coil generatoras claimed in claim 17, said mechanisms are clutches mounted within hubsof said first rotor, said second rotor and said third rotor, saidclutches being selectively engageable by a splined portion of said driveshaft.
 20. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 19,wherein said clutches include clutch splines, a clutch arm and clutchshoes, said clutch arm being rotatable relative to said clutch shoes toforce said clutch shoes into engagement with said hubs and said clutcharm being rotatable with said clutch shoes to bring a rotational speedof said hubs into alignment with a rotational speed of said drive shaft.21. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 20, whereinsaid hubs include splines for receiving said splined portion of saiddrive shaft, said splined portion of said drive shaft being moved intoengagement with said splines of said hubs when said rotational speed ofsaid hubs matches said rotational speed of said drive shaft.
 22. Apolyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 19, wherein saidsplined portion of said drive shaft is axially movable by a shifter rodto engage clutches of successive stages of said polyphasic multi-coilgenerator, said successive stages being interleaved with successivestators.
 23. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 15,wherein said electrically conductive coils of successive generatorstages are selectively electrically energized between open and closedcircuits, rotational resistance for rotating the drive shaft beingreduced when circuits are open and increased when the circuits areclosed.
 24. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 15,wherein said each array of magnets include pairs of magnets, each ofsaid pairs of magnets including one magnet radially inner relative tosaid drive shaft and the other magnet radially outer relative to saiddrive shaft.
 25. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim24, wherein each of said pairs of magnets are aligned along a commonradial axis extending radially outwardly of said drive shaft.
 26. Apolyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed in claim 15, wherein each ofsaid electrically conductive coils wrapped around a radial axisextending radially outward of said drive shaft.
 27. A polyphasicmulti-coil generator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said electricallyconductive coils are aligned end to end in a concentric circle aroundsaid drive shaft.
 28. A polyphasic multi-coil generator as claimed inclaim 15, wherein said electrically conductive coils are mountedparallel relative to said drive shaft.
 29. A polyphasic multi-coilgenerator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said electrically conductivecoils are mounted slightly inclined from parallel relative to said driveshaft.